CLINTON, S.C. (Interstat) — John Gray and two relievers combined on six hitless innings out of the bullpen, and Hunter Herndon drove in five runs as the Wofford Terriers defeated the Presbyterian Blue Hose 9-2 in nonconference baseball Tuesday evening at the Presbyterian Baseball Complex.

The Terriers (14-8) broke the game open early, scoring three times in the first inning without the benefit of a hit, then rode dominant pitching to their third win in four games. The Blue Hose fell to 3-17.

The most important sequence of the game came in the bottom of the fifth inning. With Wofford leading 5-0, starter Press Fitzpatrick and reliever Cade Bouknight navigated a bases-loaded, two-out jam to preserve the shutout. Fitzpatrick, who had just entered, walked two batters to load the bases before Bouknight was summoned. Bouknight promptly walked Mason C. on four pitches to force in a run, but then induced a flyout from Emory Guilford to end the threat and maintain the five-run advantage.

Wofford’s pitching was the story. After a scheduled short start, the Terrier bullpen took over. Gray, the top star, was exceptional in relief, throwing four perfect innings with four strikeouts. Bouknight followed with 2 1/3 hitless innings, and Branton Little worked a perfect ninth. In total, the trio faced the minimum over the final six innings, allowing no hits and just two walks while striking out seven.

The Terriers’ offense was opportunistic, scoring nine runs on just eight hits. They took advantage of four Presbyterian errors, three wild pitches, two passed balls, and two balks. Wofford scored three unearned runs.

Herndon provided the key hits, going 2 for 3. His two-run single in the first inning gave Wofford a 3-0 lead. He later added a sacrifice fly in the fifth and another RBI single in the ninth. Logan Tribble set the table, going 3 for 4 with a double, two stolen bases, and three runs scored.

Presbyterian’s only offense came in the eighth inning when Guilford hit a two-run homer off reliever Rivers, scoring Mason C., who had singled. That broke up the combined no-hit bid by the Wofford bullpen. Robbie Boykin was effective in a starting role for the Blue Hose, allowing one earned run over 3 1/3 innings and striking out five. Mikey Marroquin struck out the side in a perfect eighth inning.

The game was a contrast in season trajectories. Wofford, which entered with a winning record, executed cleanly in all phases. Presbyterian, struggling through a difficult season, was undone by defensive miscues and an inability to solve the Terrier relievers after the fifth inning.

Wofford next travels to Xavier for a three-game series beginning Friday. Presbyterian opens a three-game set at High Point on Friday.

The final score exceeded the projection of Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 6-1 Wofford victory. The Terriers’ win probability entering the game was listed at 77 percent.